Monday 29 August 2011

The Death of Common Sense

This has absolutely nothing to do with books; just life in general. If, like me, you mourn the death of common sense and lack of personal responsibility in today's society, this might interest you.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn’t always fair;
- and Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, ADD pills became the way to treat bright and inquisitive students — and parents fell for it;but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, corporations ruled the nightly news and lobbyists ruled the government; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I’m A Victim
His death, all the sadder, as it so closely followed the loss of Responsibility and his sister, Accountability.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

I think this was first published in one of the Sunday papers but it bears repeating.
Wendy

7 comments:

  1. So very true! One of my bosses favorite sayings, "Use common sense." Which she posts all over the office when someone does something stupid. (Which happens a lot.

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  2. It's about time people started taking responsibility for the own actions instead of blaming their shortcomings on society, Hutch. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Absolutely brilliant and so, so true. A little common sense goes a long way.

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  4. It used to, Claire. Those were the days!

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